Railway signal-torpedo



F, BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-27. I920.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- I 6mm;

F. BUTCHER.

RMLWAY- SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-27. 1920.

1,389,494, Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- showing my FRANK BUTCHER, 0F VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA; ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL RAIL-- WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, NEW JERSEY.

OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDQ- Application filed December 27, 1920. Serial No. 433,371.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTGHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal- Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and pertains to a novel way of securing the rail-engaging member tothe-torpedo case. r

The primary object of my invention is to connect the rail-engaging member to" a torpedo case by a string which may be constructed of either fiber or a fine string of pliable wire wrapped around the rail-engaging member at the edge of the case and across the top of the torpedo case.

A further object of my improvement is to hold the string of fiber or wire in its position on the case and rail-engaging member by a band or ring which embraces the edge of the case and confines the string at that point between the ring and the case.

Further objects of my present improvement will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the torpedo having a spring rail-engaging member,

plied thereto. I

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of Fig. 1, the ends of the spring being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an edge View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged central vertical section of Fig. 1.

v Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of a torpedo carrying a lead attaching strap showing my improved connecting means applied thereto.

Fig. 6 is an inverted perspective view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a top perspective viewof the torpedo, shown in Fig. 5 with the embracing ring shown in separated relation.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged central vertical section of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in which the same reference numerals apply to like parts, 1 is a torpedo case and 2 a spring railattaching member, which is applied to the improved connecting means ap is necessary to hold the string in its wrapped under side of the case 1. The shape of the spring 2 forms no part ofmy present improvement, as the spring may be of any suitable shape without alfecting my present improved manner of securing it to the case.

In carrying out my present improvement, I provide a string 3, which may be formed of fiber or fine pliable wire, such, for instance, as copper or annealed steel or iron. This string 3 is passed under the rail-at taching member 2 and across the top of the case 1, making an approximate X-shape arrangement 4 at the top of the case, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7. The string?) also passes down the edge of the case at four. points 5, and then either under or around the spring 2, orboth, the wrapping being] tied. An embracing and holding band 6 is then forced over the edge of the torpedo case and clamps the downwardly extending portions 5 of the string between the ring and the" edge of the case.

several times. The ends of the string may be tied together into a suitable knot 7, or fastened in any other desired manner.

The embracing ring or .band 6 fits the edge of the case tight and, therefore, tightlyv clamps the downwardly extendingparts 5 of the string and the case and also serves to tighten and hold tight the string. In this construction nothing in addition to the ring positions. In fact, the ends of the string may be cutoff after the ring has been placed in position, owing to the fact that it is tightly clamped between the ring and the case, as stated.

.It willbe observed from this arrangement of the string that it does not extend across the bottom of the torpedo case, nor across the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

This string will be passed under or around the rail-attaching member and across the top of the case, preferably spring intermediate the edges of the torpedo cerned, is then subjected to the usual waterproof coating.

By wrapping the string under the railattaching member, or around it, as previously shown and described, and then across the top of the case, as shown, the rail-attaching member is tightly drawn to the under side of the case, aswill be readily understood, and this manner of applying the string to the case and the strap has not, so far as I am aware, been heretofore done.

I do not limit myself to the X-shaped arrangement of the string where it crossesthe side of the case, although this is the preferred; arrangement, for I find that the string may be passed across'the top of the case in parallel arrangement instead of X shaped arrangement.

The term string as used in the claims includes a fiber string, or a string of properly sized annealed metal.

The improvement has a particular adaptability for attaching a spring-rail-attaching member to a' fiber case; In all the figures of the drawing, the case is made of fiber and so is the embracing and clamping ring.

\Vith the means heretofore used for attaching the spring rail-engaging members to fiber cases, it has been necessary to use a metal clip of some sort. By the use of the string applied in the manner described, I am able to secure a spring rail-attaching member to a fiber case in an eflicient manner without the use of a metal clip. There a metal clip is used, it is liable to fly, when the torpedo is exploded. The spring, however, which is attached to the raildoes not fiy, and by using a fiber string there is nothing to fly when the torpedo is exploded by the wheels of a locomotive or car.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:- i

1. The combination with a case of a railway signal torpedo and rail-attaching member at one. side thereof, of a string passed under the rail-attaching member at points adjacent the edge of the case and across the opposite side of the case, and aclamping member for holding the string in its wrapped positiona 2. The combination with a railway signal torpedo case, of a rail-attaching member located at one side thereof, a string passed under the rail-attaching member at points located at the edge of the case and across the opposite side of the case in X-shape arrangement, and a clamping member for holding the string in its wrapped position.

3. The combination with a'case of a railway signal torpedo, of a rail-attaching member applied to one side'thereof, a string extending across the opposite side of the case down the edge of the case and under the railengaging member at the edge of the case,

and a clamping ring embracing the edge of the case and the string, clamping the string between the ring and the edge of the case.

4. The combination with a case of a railway signal torpedo, of a rail-engaging strap applied to one side thereof, a string extending across the opposite side of the case in X-shaped arrangement, down the edgeof the case and under the rail-engaging member,

and a ring embracing the edge of the case and a stringbetwe'en it and the case.

5. The combination with arailway signal torpedo'having a fiber case, of a spring metal rail-attaching member applied to one side of the case, a fiber string extending across the other side of the case down its edges and under the spring at the edge of the case, and means attaching the string to the case.

6. The combination of a railway signal torpedo having a fiber case, of a metalspring rail-attaching member applied to one side of the case, a fiber string extending across the opposite side of the case and under the spring atthe edge of the ease, and a fiber ring embracing the string between it and the edge of the case.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. 7

FRANK DUT CHER. 

